At Vance - Heart of Steel (2000) [Japanese Edition]

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At Vance - Heart of Steel (2000) [Japanese Edition]

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Not long after creating the impressive and fully self-produced debut “No Escape”, At Vance hit the studio to record a follow up with a few new members and a full arsenal of ideas. In terms of both production and songwriting, this album is very similar to the debut, though the way it begins is less abrupt and functions more as a traditional power metal release. It begins fast, the tempo varies from middle to end, and there is a small collection of brilliant remakes of well known songs and classical compositions.

The sound of this band can be best described as a hybrid of power metal and 80s traditional metal, with a strong emphasis on classical harmonic devices similar to those employed by Yngwie Malmsteen and other Neo-classical metal composers. Oliver Hartmann’s vocals bear a strong similarity to original Rising Force vocalist Jeff Scott Soto, although the arrangement of vocal harmonies in several works on this album is a bit more ambitious than that of Soto’s at the time. Olaf Lenk’s guitar playing is a more reserved, yet equally apt version of Malmsteen’s brand of shred; utilizing melodic passages that can be sung along with a bit more regularly.

The first 3 songs on this album are obvious highlights, containing melodic themes and passages that stick to your memory instantly. The opening track “Prelude” is a rather simple lute passage that segues directly into “Soldier of Time”, which is one of the fastest and catchiest songs on here. “The Brave and the Strong” follows with a hymn like choral intro accompanied by an organ. This song could almost fit onto Freedom Call’s debut, although Olaf’s soloing style is a bit more technically impressive than the melodic leads of the former.

From here on the album gets a bit varied, but never looses its metal edge. “Heart of Steel” is a more mid-paced rocker, but has all the right hooks and riffs to earn it the position of title track for the album, particularly the unforgettable chorus. “S.O.S.” has been the subject of criticism due to its tendency towards a hair metal sound. It is noteworthy to point out that this song was originally composed by Abba, and unless you plan on either putting in ridiculously muddy guitar tracks or garbled black metal vocals, this is how the song will sound regardless to how hard of a rocking version you make out of it. I personally like a few of Abba’s songs, but for those of you who don’t, the skip button is there if you need it.

“Princess of the Night” and “Why do you cry?” are slow paced ballads with poignant lyrics, which are obviously not for everyone. Bear in mind though that these songs contain the same polished neo-classical devices of the faster tracks, as well as the amazing lead guitar work. I for one approve of any band that knows that it is not a good idea to cook through an entire album, which is a common flaw in more recent power metal releases.

“King of your Dreams” and “Don’t you believe a Stranger” see a return to the blazing speed that kicked off this album, as well as the catchy themes and soaring vocal lines. “Goodbye” has a good amount of fast drum work, although the song itself is mid-paced in comparison to much of the rest of the album. It has a solid introduction and some top notch lead guitar playing. The remake of Chopin’s 4th Etude is probably the most impressive work that Olaf has done thus far. Translating a piano work to guitar is often difficult in itself, let alone arranging it for a 5 piece metal band. Although I prefer the remake of Vivaldi’s “Summer” movement of the four seasons on the previous album to this one, it is not by a wide margin.

The version of this CD that I acquired is from Russia, so it contains the bonus track “Eye of the Tiger”, which is otherwise a bonus track on the first album. Suffice to say, this song is not often covered because it is difficult to find a vocalist that can pull it off well. Oliver Hartmann proves himself to be up to the challenge, and actually shoots his voice above the register of the original version, which was already quite high. There are a few changes on this version, mostly in the form of added elaborations in the voice and guitar parts, but for the most part it is a fully faithful homage to a great 80s classic song.

If you like solid power metal in the vain of Freedom Call mixed with some heavy Malmsteen influences, this CD will not disappoint. If I had to compare it to any Rising Force album, it would probably be “Marching Out”, although some of the songs could be compared to more accessible works from the “Odyssey” release. In my own personal view, this band has yet to make a mistake in their attempt to capture the sound they seek, so I proudly give them my endorsement and a perfect score.

by hells_unicorn, metal-archives.com

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At Vance - Heart of Steel (2000) [Japanese Edition]

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At Vance - Heart of Steel (2000) [Japanese Edition]

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At Vance - Heart of Steel (2000) [Japanese Edition]

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